Bodie coming back

Troy Bodie has been following the Stockton Thunder's journey to the ECHL playoffs. Now, he's going to be a part of it again.

Scott Linesburgh

Troy Bodie has been following the Stockton Thunder's journey to the ECHL playoffs. Now, he's going to be a part of it again.

The Edmonton Oilers announced on Monday that Bodie will be reassigned to the Thunder and will join the team in Boise, Idaho, when it opens the best-of-seven, first-round series at 6:10 p.m. today against the Idaho Steelheads.

"I was expecting to come back, and I'm looking forward to it," Bodie said. "I've seen that things have been going well, and I'm proud of the team. Hopefully, I won't put a damper on things."

Bodie, an Oilers prospect, spent the final 20 games of the regular season with the Hamilton (Alberta) Bulldogs of the American Hockey League. The 22-year-old, 6-foot-4 forward started the season with the Thunder and had 38 points (21 goals, 17 assists) in 46 games, and is still second on the team in goals scored.

"This is a great move for us, and Troy can certainly come in and help us again," Thunder coach Chris Cichocki said.

Bodie's return is part of a chain reaction caused by the Oilers not making the NHL playoffs. Edmonton sent some of its young players back to Hamilton, and Bodie was sent to Stockton.

Bodie was added to Stockton's playoff roster, along with two former Thunder players who are not scheduled to return.

Cichocki included forward Tyler Spurgeon and Oilers defenseman Bryan Young, saying neither currently has an AHL playoff assignment. Injured enforcer Adam Huxley was left off the roster.

Rosters are increased from 20 to 23 players for the playoffs and are set for the entire postseason.

"I know the Oilers like their young players to play in the playoffs, so I decided to include those guys just in case that is an option," Cichocki said.

Young played 17 games in Stockton before going to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Pa.) Penguins of the AHL, and then finishing the season with the Oilers. Spurgeon was also promoted to Wilkes Barre/Scranton.

Huxley had surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right hand last week and might have been available if the Thunder advanced deep into the postseason.

"It's just a decision I had to make, and Adam has done so much for us this season," Cichocki said. "But I had to take an educated guess that there was a better chance we'd see Young or Spurgeon than Huxley."

The Thunder is getting healthier, but there still are some concerns.

Cichocki said the status of forwards Mike Lalonde (thumb) and Brock Radunske (ankle) and defenseman Beau Geisler (back) would be "game-time decisions." Geisler has missed the last seven games, Radunske didn't play in the final two, and Lalonde sat out the season finale in Las Vegas on Saturday.

"I wish I had a clearer picture," Cichocki said. "I'll have some decisions to make at the morning skate (today)."

Idaho (42-24-6) has its own injury problems. Darrell Hay, its highest scoring defenseman, will miss at least the first two games of the series with what the team called an "upper body injury."